Conversion 30,000 gal Saltwater concrete-with-liner pool to garden pond

[jsam]

We recently purchased a house in Georgia that has a salt water concrete-with-liner pool. Depth goes from 3 ft to 9 ft. There are no leaks currently however the liner is 10 years old. Since I need to empty my water for the conversion, I thought this would be good time to replace or put another liner over the old one. What should I use? The pool is rectangular with a 6 foot concrete deck around the entire pool and was built up from surrounding area.

If I would want to install a wetland bog, could I incorporate it within my pool. I read the thread related to center wetland bog for new pond construction but not sure if I can do this with conversion.

 

[reefsr]

Welcome!

Pictures would help with the bog ideas (and I just want to look at this thing!! Never seen a 30,000 gallon concrete pond)

I have no experience with concrete, but I think a normal 45mil liner would do the trick just fine.

 

[jsam]

 

[jsam]

Pool is 20 x 40’, goes from 3.5 feet to large 9 foot diving area. We are doing lots of repairs on our house, so thought I might do pond conversion with only underwater pump directed throughout pool until I develop a leak. That will give me a learning curve period! At that point would do the permanent pond conversion. However if I could do the wetland bog within the pool or just outside the pool without major construction I would like to do that. We are DIY retirees. Hope the pictures help.

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

Just curious, but are you going to keep the 9’ depth, or fill in for a more shallow pond?

 

[Stephen Noble]

Welcome to the forum!
Actually, that looks live a very nice swimming pool that just needs a little TLC. But, if you are determined to convert it to a pond here is a link that might be useful: https://www.pondtrademag.com/from-pool-to-pond-a-tributary-transformation-in-concert/

 

[GBBUDD]

Welcome
You could make your back yard an oasis. The nice slope to the shallow end would be ideal to dig in a bog have the bog overflow to a stream that comes down the slops and dumps into the pool/ pond

 

[j.w]

@jsam
Gosh I would love to have a pool like that! But if you are done w/it then go for it and if you can find a way to add a bog then do it as you will love it and the less maintenance that comes w/it. Hope you will keep us updated on all the progress you make doing all this. We love pictures and watching others do all the work

 

[bagsmom]

Are you converting this to be strictly for fish and plants? Or are you hoping it can be for recreation/swimming also?

 

[addy1]

Welcome to the forum!

That will be one neat project!

 

[jsam]

Thank you all for reading and commenting. Eventually would want a recreational pond, but that conversion would be when the liner needs to be replaced. I like the bog idea by the stairs. Why would I not want to keep the 9 ft depth? Doesn’t that give the fish more safety from birds? All our trees are out side our fence so no shade or coverage. We need to have a cover over the pool from Oct to May (eye sore) and then you wait another month for warm water before you can swim. With a pond I can enjoy all year.

 

[bagsmom]

I can't wait to see this project in progress! It should be really fun!

 

[GBBUDD]

The only reason to shorten it up a bit is for maintenance vacuuming up leaves and sediment from the bottom. But it is not necessary

 

[GBBUDD]

Looking a your photos a little more it looks like your drainage from the stair side as it goes to the back yard . Will cross where the stream would cross to the pool this could be an issue. A dry riverbed type of drain could allow the water to pass under the stream

 

[jsam]

Looking a your photos a little more it looks like your drainage from the stair side as it goes to the back yard . Will cross where the stream would cross to the pool this could be an issue. A dry riverbed type of drain could allow the water to pass under the stream

This is sight of the pool 7-8 months of the year.
You are right about the drainage. Is a dry River bed similar to a French drain? At our previous house (we thought it was going to be our retirement home) we had built a pondless water fall/riverbed. Initially I had intended to do something similar in the back yard, however our large front yard drains towards our house ( and sometimes into the basement) so we have thought to make the pondless reservoir at the base of the incline with a French drain for over flow to around the side of house to drainage ditch at back of the property. Just need to prioritize our outside projects (along with inside projects) based on time, ability and money.. Picture of front yard included. That is also one of the reason we are converting pool to pond initially without major construction, because gives us time to develop and learn best option, get great ideas and figure out what is within our capability. I am looking forward to everyone’s help. As my husband attests; my plans “evolve”....and usually most often after a restless night of sleep.

9 ft deep. Our family are scuba divers....so I can either dive and clean or convince my kids “they would want to do it”

 

[jsam]

Made the plunge two days ago. Emptying out the pool. Everything I have read said salt pool needs emptying. Does all 30K gallons have to be emptied or just % for plants initially? This 275 gallon container is going to be my in pond sand filter with shelves on side and plant in center: placed high enough in pond to have bog on top. Will have 2 inch pipes configured in bottom inserted thru current ball joint drain that will also come out on other side for wash out. If anybody had any ideas would love to hear. This is food grade container and I am hoping metal will be ok in pond. I believe it is aluminum.

 

[brokensword]

Made the plunge two days ago. Emptying out the pool. Everything I have read said salt pool needs emptying. Does all 30K gallons have to be emptied or just % for plants initially? This 275 gallon container is going to be my in pond sand filter with shelves on side and plant in center: placed high enough in pond to have bog on top. Will have 2 inch pipes configured in bottom inserted thru current ball joint drain that will also come out on other side for wash out. If anybody had any ideas would love to hear. This is food grade container and I am hoping metal will be ok in pond. I believe it is aluminum.

get all the salt out completely as plants and salt don't mix. Any water left (with any amount of salt) stills contains it; it doesn't evaporate out. Plan on rinsing down the walls a couple of times and draining that out too.

I'd go for bog filtration.

Plan on a lot of plants to both shade and help with crushing algae growth (the free floating kind; the stuff that grows on all your underwater surfaces is beneficial.

Any filter in-pond is going to be a lot more effort to maintain.

 

[jsam]

Since this pool to pond conversion is temporary until the liner needs replaced and we use machinery to do it right; our Georgia “clay” makes it almost impossible to hand dig (husband refuses) a hole big enough for the 30k gallon pond. I am trying ideas that are temporary and do not cost a bundle. If the maintenance gets to be a headache, we can then reprioritize our improvement projects. We finally got a floor in one of our bathrooms.....those kinda of things are taking priority right now.

 

[brokensword]

Since this pool to pond conversion is temporary until the liner needs replaced and we use machinery to do it right; our Georgia “clay” makes it almost impossible to hand dig (husband refuses) a hole big enough for the 30k gallon pond. I am trying ideas that are temporary and do not cost a bundle. If the maintenance gets to be a headache, we can then reprioritize our improvement projects. We finally got a floor in one of our bathrooms.....those kinda of things are taking priority right now.

is he handy with wood? You could make a wood box and use that as a bog; only needs be 18" higher than your pond. Would be easy to take down.

 

[jsam]

We put the makeshift filter in the pool yesterday. We had removed all the salt water and filled the pool about 1/3 of the way then got 2 1/2 inches of rain. We then let the pond sit ideal for a week while we were on vacation. So I have the pump going to a 2 inch pvc pipe that has a 3/4 inch horizontal branch to provide a current, a 3/4 inch vertical branch for water fountain (sprayer) and then 2 inch pipe to the inside of the container where I have three - 18 x 2 inch pvc pipes that have slits sitting just off the bottom. The pipes inside the container are attached to a ball valve exit port so I can flush the system if I need to. All of them have ball valves so I can adjust flow. Waiting on my larger rocks for the bottom layer to set up filter since they were part of a larger delivery. When pond is full, water level will be over metal plate. I plan to hang pots on side and put plants on top of container to camouflage. I will shorten blue hose when we know for sure where electrical outlet/pump will be. Right now have an extension cord across sidewalk.